perfidy

Before I decamp later today for a ten-day bacchanalia of dissipation on the beaches of Tybee Island, GA (known to all as the Redneck Riviera), I thought I would bring an amusing contrast to the attention of Ministry readers. Massachusetts is one messed up place, no doubt. But for the most part the things we are famous for: traffic, rudeness, gay marriage, our senators, don't register at all here. Sure, we bitch about the traffic and the jerkhole who just cut us off, and that Joe & Clark just claimed the perfect spot and perfect weekend for our wedding before we got around to it, a place and time that is rightfully OURS, DAMMIT!, but it's no big deal.

But check out this study in contrasts.

Story the first: The Boston Archdiocese shuts down a Catholic school two days before graduation. The BAD claims they changed the locks overnight and called parents to tell them school was off today in order to head off the PR and logistical disaster of an ongoing occupation of the school by parents angry that the school is closing for good at the end of this school year. True, the BAD did turn down an offer by a group of parents to buy the school at fair market value, and true, it is now common in these parts for parishoners to occupy churches slated for closure long after the drop-dead date.

But in heading off that brutal and messy occupation, the Boston Archdiocese got this:

That's a picture of students crying and praying in the rain last night as parents and students rushed to gather outside the school in a highly visible, public, and photogenic protest. That's right: in order to stave off a long fight over school closures that would only lead to a PR disaster and money ill-spent for an archidocese that can hardly afford it, they handed Boston's deeply disgruntled Catholic laity a pearl of incomparable price. Later today the school's graduation for grades preschool through 6 will be held outside the gates, with diplomas provided by parents with laser printers and with a rush permit granted by mayor Tom "Mumbles" Menino.

Clearly, the Boston Archdiocese is fundamentally incapable of thinking of the children.

But wait!

Story the second: Boston's Attorney General is investigating charges that the longshoreman's union has been putting children as young as 2 on the payroll. That way, when they turn 18 and take a job they have sixteen years of seniority and pay increases built up. This comes as Boston's cargo trade declines, thanks, no doubt, in part to the monstrous costs of doing business in Boston.

Clearly, the longshoremen think too much of the children.